Voting Begins In Greek Bailout Referendum

Polls have opened in the Greece bailout referendum, as voters decide whether to accept a deal offered by the country’s creditors.

Opinion polls suggest the “Yes” and “No” camps are neck-and-neck.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has insisted a No vote would allow his government to push for a better bailout package.

The premier has strongly indicated he will step down if the Greek people back the terms offered by the EU, the IMF and the European Central Bank.

Many Greek shoppers have been panic buying from supermarkets ahead of the vote – purchasing essentials such as pasta and flour.

David Cameron has said the poll essentially amounts to an in/out vote on Greece’s membership of the European Union.

On Friday, Greece was officially declared in default by the European Financial Stability Facility – days after the nation fell into arrears with the International Monetary Fund.

Banks across the country have been closed over the past week, with customers only able to withdraw €60 a day from cash machines.

Yesterday, as the crucial referendum loomed, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis accused creditors of “terrorism” by instilling a sense of fear in voters.

No campaigning was allowed in the 24 hours before voting began.

In a final mass rally held in Athens on Friday night, Mr Tsipras had told a 25,000-strong crowd: “On Sunday, we don’t just decide to stay in Europe – we decide to live with dignity in Europe, to work and prosper in Europe.”

There have been warnings that a No vote could see Greece leave the eurozone.

“Yes” supporters fear a so-called “Grexit” would also mean a return to Greece’s former currency, the drachma, if Mr Tsipras gets his way.

The question is:

“Must the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Eurogroup of 25 June, 2015, and comprised of two parts which make up their joint proposal, be accepted?

“The first document is titled ‘reforms for the completion of the current program and beyond’ and the second ‘Preliminary debt sustainability analysis.'”

Voters are being asked to tick one of two boxes: “not approved/no” and – below it – “approved/yes.”